Uber has objected to a physical panic button, claiming that it does not own the cars, which could be used by the driver to offer rides on other taxi services as well. If a rider were to enter a taxi that works for say four operators, the taxi would need to have four physical panic buttons, Uber said earlier this month in response to a report that the city of Mumbai was considering banning the service.

“In a situation of distress the rider would have to pick the correct operator’s panic button to be able to get help on time,” Uber said in a blog post. Physical buttons are not only prone to wear and tear, but also to mechanical malfunctions, it added.

As it negotiates the thicket of regulations in India, Uber is apparently trying to position itself as a technology intermediary, similar to e-commerce companies, rather than a taxi service. That would place the company outside most of the regulations currently governing taxi services in the country, according to legal experts.

The new Send Status feature on the Uber app allows riders to share with family and friends details about their driver and vehicle, including live GPS tracking and the driver’s photo, name and vehicle license number, Uber said Wednesday. “Send Status makes it even easier for friends and family to pinpoint your exact location and track trip progress in real time—from start to finish,” it added. The SOS button on the app dials the police help number.

The app updates are currently available on Android with an iOS version to follow. Delhi transport authorities could not immediately be reached for comment on the new app features.